Chapter 13

Yan Zeyang had spent years in the military. Climbing to the rank of regimental commander at such a young age wasn’t just because of his father’s influence. Those two years when his family had faced turmoil had shaped him. Yan Weiguo’s close friend had defied pressure to keep him in the army. Those years had been bleak and difficult.

His life had not been smooth sailing.

But from that darkness, he had forged an iron will. The once proud and rebellious youth had transformed into a man of cold discipline and restraint.

And now, this fearsome “Devil Commander” stood there, his face blank as he watched Wen Xin.

The ten-meter distance between them was nothing, but she made a show of dragging it out, swaying her hips with every step like a lazy cat. When she finally entered the kitchen, she didn’t even turn to face him properly. Instead, she leaned against the counter with one hand and greeted him in an overly formal tone:

“Comrade Yan, is there something you need?”

In his eyes, she had neither the posture to stand properly nor the decorum to sit correctly.

Yan Zeyang narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “Stand up straight! What’s with that posture?”

In the military, everyone was required to stand tall, tighten their core, and maintain proper form whether standing or sitting. It was no surprise he found her stance displeasing—she walked with a swaying waist, and when she stood, she was as limp as a noodle. If she were one of his soldiers, he would’ve already used her as an example of what not to do. The words had come out of his mouth instinctively.

…

But Wen Xin was utterly shocked. What did he just say? Posture?

Ugh! What was he even talking about? She was simply leaning to the side for a moment to rest. Was it a crime to relax a little?

Besides, her natural curves were already perky—did she even need to emphasize them?

In modern times, if a man dared to say something like that, it would be blatant… well, flirtation!

Men from this era really had no sense of nuance.

Now, looking at Yan Zeyang, standing there in his perfectly pressed military uniform with his serious expression, Wen Xin felt suffocated. Never mind whether she was standing properly or not—since when did men have an issue with women standing a certain way?

What was his problem? If he had such a big issue with it, then after getting married, he should make sure his wife never adopts that posture in bed either! The image that popped into her mind made her almost laugh out loud.

She barely held it in, but the amusement still showed on her face.

“What are you laughing at?” Yan Zeyang’s expression darkened as he eyed her suspiciously.

Wen Xin curled her pink lips into a playful smile and said, with a deliberately ambiguous tone, “Comrade Yan, you wouldn’t understand… Women—well, we all like to stand this way. If we didn’t, our clothes wouldn’t fit right.” And out of clothes? Even more so.

Yan Zeyang had never thought about this. In the military, improper posture was always due to lack of training. He was used to correcting new recruits for not keeping their stance tight. But when Wen Xin grinned mischievously and brought up the difference between men and women, he suddenly became aware of it.

The iron-faced regimental commander coughed uncomfortably, attributing his discomfort to the cramped space of the kitchen.

He stood upright, exuding authority. His tall, well-proportioned frame made his uniform sit perfectly on him. But if one looked closely, his broad shoulders and firm muscles were not just for show—his presence made the already small kitchen feel even more suffocating.

Normally, when he was around, women would either shrink away in shyness or lower their heads, too intimidated to even glance at him.

But when his gaze swept over Wen Xin, he found her smiling at him, eyes twinkling with amusement.

Being looked at like that, Yan Zeyang immediately snapped, “Take this seriously! What do you mean by ‘clothes wouldn’t fit right’? Just look at what you’re wearing—button up your shirt properly!”

Wen Xin: “…” Are you serious?!

It was the peak of summer, and she already wished she could get away with wearing just a tank top and shorts. She was practically suffocating in her long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Now he wanted her to button it up all the way to her neck? Was he insane? She had only left two buttons undone!

Before she could argue, Yan Zeyang didn’t give her the chance. He pointed at the bag he had tossed onto the counter. “It’s from a local villager. Shell them.”

Shell? Wen Xin looked at the bag filled with something. She opened it and took a glance.

—

Hazelnuts. Each one was barely larger than a fingernail. There had to be at least dozens of pounds in that bag.

Wen Xin’s jaw dropped. Then, her expression shifted to one of frustration. This was just cruel! It was like dumping a bag of soybeans in front of her and telling her to pick them out one by one—no, it was worse! Shelling them was an even more tedious task!

Seeing her grab a handful of hazelnuts only to toss them back in frustration, cheeks flushed with indignation, Yan Zeyang knew she was fuming. But the task was technically part of her job. She could either quit or stay and do the work—there was no way around it.

He smirked slightly, turned to leave, and threw in one last remark, “Make sure you finish shelling them in the next couple of days. It’s too hot; they’ll turn oily if you delay. Don’t slack off.” With that, he unbuttoned his collar and strode upstairs.

Wen Xin was so furious she kicked the bag in frustration. The male lead in the novel was supposed to be a dignified, noble-born Red Second Generation—why was he actually such a petty, vindictive man?!

All because he didn’t get enough to eat this morning?!

Halfway up the stairs, Yan Zeyang glanced back and saw her standing in the kitchen, hands on her hips, kicking at the bag like a child throwing a tantrum. He let out a quiet humph, but there was undeniable amusement in his eyes as he walked upstairs, feeling quite pleased with himself.

—

After a brief moment of frustration, Wen Xin calmed down. Did he really think she’d finish shelling all of these just because he said so? With this many, even if she worked nonstop, there was no way she’d finish in time! What was he going to do about it?

But this little incident made her realize something—she needed to figure out an escape plan.

She had already asked Li Weihong about traveling to another city. To leave town, she needed a travel permit, which was essentially the equivalent of an ID in this era. Whether she wanted to stay at a guesthouse, find a job, or do anything official, she needed this document. Without it, she would be completely stuck.

But travel permits weren’t permanent. They had expiration dates—some lasted a few days, others a couple of weeks, or at most a month. Once expired, they became useless.

What kind of ridiculous rule was that? Wen Xin scoffed. Was there no way to survive without a permit?

Li Weihong explained that people like Wen Xin, who had relatives to rely on, didn’t necessarily need a permit. If she was living with family, they would take care of her, covering her basic needs like food and shelter.

But where was Wen Xin supposed to find such a relative? She had arrived in this world completely alone.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Li Weihong seemed confused herself. Wasn’t this common knowledge for city dwellers? Wen Xin looked just like one—definitely not a rural girl like herself. Shouldn’t she know more about this than her?

Wen Xin seized the chance to press further. “What if someone wants to move permanently to another city?”

Li Weihong thought for a moment. “You’d have to either get married or buy a house there. My brother married a city girl, so now he lives in the city. And there was a family from our village whose son bought a house in the city, so their whole family moved with him.”

Wen Xin’s eyes lit up. Right! Buying a house!

Now she understood—if she wanted to head south, the first thing she needed was a travel permit. The second was enough money to buy a house and settle down permanently.

Right now, she had no proof of identification, not a single cent to her name—completely broke.

It seemed impossible for her to leave the Yan family anytime soon. Since that was the case, she started to regret provoking that devilish man earlier this morning. She had much more pressing matters to deal with—like making money…

He Wenyan changed into fresh clothes, washed her face, and walked out. She had just overheard voices. “Zeyang is back?”

“He just returned and brought back dozens of pounds of hazelnuts,” Wen Xin replied while placing food on the table.

“Hazelnuts?” He Wenyan was surprised. Yan Weiguo’s son rarely brought anything home. At most, he’d occasionally bring his sister some snacks, but even that was infrequent. “These aren’t easy to get. You only find them in rural areas. You hardly ever see them in the city.”

“Heh!” Wen Xin gritted her teeth. He really went through all that trouble just for this!

“What is he planning to do with them?”

“He said a fellow soldier gifted them to him and told me to shell them all within two days before the oils turn rancid,” Wen Xin mimicked his tone while setting down a bowl of porridge and a plate of palm-sized steamed buns.

He Wenyan glanced at Wen Xin. Her large, expressive eyes were like pools of water, and when they moved, they sparkled with a captivating liveliness. Her lips were a soft, rosy pink, delicate as peach blossom petals. Her fair skin and striking features made her undeniably beautiful—truly a sight to behold.

Men, when they have no interest, won’t even spare you a glance. But once they start paying attention…

She smiled slightly but said nothing.

“Weiguo will be home late tonight, so no need to save him dinner. Since Zeyang came back early, he probably hasn’t eaten yet. Take a few buns and some porridge up to him later,” He Wenyan instructed after tasting a bun. She was quite satisfied. There were both vegetarian and meat fillings—thoughtfully prepared. The vegetable buns had a fragrant, umami flavor from fresh mushrooms, while the meat buns were savory and chewy, making them irresistibly delicious.

She had underestimated this Wen family girl.

She originally thought their efforts were in vain, but now… she wasn’t so sure.

“Ah?” Wen Xin blinked. She had to personally deliver it to him? He sure was putting on airs!

She picked out a few meat buns from the kitchen, deliberately slamming them onto the plate. Then, before heading upstairs, she casually grabbed one and ate it at a leisurely pace.

But the moment she stepped into the room, she was met with an utterly breathtaking, nosebleed-inducing sight.

Neither of them had expected to run into each other like this—Yan Zeyang fresh out of the shower, and Wen Xin walking in unannounced.

And she certainly hadn’t expected that while he looked stunningly fit in uniform, he looked even more jaw-dropping without it!

To be honest, she had never witnessed such raw masculinity up close before. Just looking at him made her legs feel weak.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted downward. There, a certain bulge was… quite prominent. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face instantly flushed crimson.